Change and Development: How creativity can help us create a thriving tomorrow

Image: The ReCreators – Upcycling Workshops CCS Grant Feb 23

It has been said before that when arts, culture and creativity are strong and visible, communities are strong and visible.

So when we think about change in our local environments – whether that is in cities and towns, schools, workplaces, or communities – we would hope to see more and more creative activity as a part of future development.

Being creative is one of the fundamental components of being human. It is a part of understanding who we are, it is part of how we contribute to our communities and how we are part of building our individual and collective future. Having access to arts, culture and creativity in daily life is one of those things that are an important example of a community that is growing well and encouraging people to thrive. 

So, if we look at the push towards growth in our government spaces, in business, in skills development and more, it is important for us to consider the role that creativity plays in this space, but also how we can work together to ensure that the ongoing (and perhaps at times relentless) change and development can be  sustainable and make a positive impact on people and the environment we live in. 

Within each of us, creative activity can make a significant impact on our growth mindset. This is in our ability to deal with new experiences, to imagine new possibilities, and to find ways to inspire hope in one another as we face challenge and uncertainty. It can provide ways to help us deal with stress and build our sense of resilience and understanding. Creativity can be a part of enabling us to think outside of the box, to invent novel solutions to help shape a positive future.

Like any new skill, it is about building a reliable habit and creating a sustainable pathway to developing those abilities in an ongoing and iterative way.

This daily creative habit can be supported through things like ‘Creativity Every Day’ – with expert guidance from local creative professionals. 

Externally, in our spaces, places and communities we have already seen a lot of change and development over the past few years, and it seems like this will be a constant component of the next few years. So, as we consider what the future we are working towards looks and feels like, it would be exciting to see how that future of life, community and work might feel more balanced. More connected. More playful. To live and work in a future that prioritises time for family and friends and social cohesion. A future that encourages play and creativity and the sharing of stories. 

Whatever our place in life, our political perspectives, or our level of engagement, it is clear that we all strive to be happy and healthy and thriving.

So it seems important to consider how we build our future spaces and places to encourage more time engaging in collective creative experiences. Access to and engagement in creative activity makes a measurable contribution to wellbeing. So how are we shaping our environments to have more of those real-world interactions? How do we connect with one another is spaces for play and activity – those hubs, community environments and third spaces?

How do we support our growing communities through the provision of soft infrastructure – the people and organisations who help us to make our sense of place? 

Regional development is about more than growing the economy. It is about more than building physical infrastructure. These things are important, but it is also about how we learn, how we connect with one another, and how we enhance wellbeing for all people. It has to be an and-and engagement. We need the range of activities to truly embrace change. Access to arts, culture and creativity is a primary contributor to individual and collective wellbeing. This should be part of how we articulate our sense of place, and should include both hard and soft infrastructure throughout our communities, and look to build upon the strengths that exist within the local community, not just importing external options. 

Think about the things we can do to embed creativity into our own lives, but also the lives of our children and families. Then look at how that connects us with our wider community to really make an inspiring creative vision for change that contributes to the future of our region. This is an exciting and hopeful space for change.